05. Field Notes: Soho
What was once a stretch of open fields in the 17th century has become one of the busiest neighbourhoods in Central London – always changing yet still familiar.
Rain or shine, Soho is a place we return to: to shop, to eat, to meet friends, or simply to pause in between plans. This is the Vins’ guide through the neighbourhood.
Start the morning caffeinated at Flat White on Berwick Street. Settle into the warmth and the music while the rest of London is still waking up. If coffee is not enough, just a couple of steps away is My Place, serving brunch and cocktails every day until 5 pm.
With energy restored, it’s time to get the steps in and wander through Soho’s record shops. Begin at Sounds of the Universe, a terracotta tiled corner, housing old and new gems across every genre. If the album on repeat isn’t there, Sister Ray is next. End the record-hop at Reckless Records, impossible to miss with the bright orange exterior. Come for the records, stay for the atmosphere.
Reminded of old hits and albums that bring back memories, Soho: a place of constant movement, has a way of guiding you back to familiar corners and moments. Whether it’s a quick pit stop or a revived appetite, Berwick’s street food market offers falafels to nibble on or katsu wraps worth getting messy for. On colder and rainy days, escape indoors at Rita’s on Lexington Street. Get a corner table and order their Fried Chicken Caesar salad with a side of their French fries.
Save some room for something sweet by walking it off in Soho Square Gardens. Find a bench, watch strangers play table tennis and savour the afternoon. For continued people watching and slow looking, head to Café Vins near Carnaby Street for a sweet mocha or an afternoon matcha, hot or iced, with coconut or almond milk; the bar team always does it right.
From the morning records, the afternoon turns to books. With your cup half full and eyes visually fed at Café Vins’ collection of titles across fashion, architecture and culture, buzz the bell at IDEA bookshop on Wardour Street. Flip through out-of-print and rare books, add them to your collection or discover something entirely new.
As the sun disappears and the streets get louder, the evening calls for wine at Marjorie’s on Foubert’s Place. The Parisian-inspired wine bar stays open until late, pouring bottles and glasses guided by staff recommendations that never disappoint.
With all the walking and when the appetite returns, the last stop is Mountain, back at Beak Street. Serving up Spanish-influenced, fire-cooked cuisine, bringing back liveliness into candlelit evenings. The open flames and the bustle, it’s the kind of place that keeps you lingering after the plates are cleared.
Most days begin nearby, and somehow end here too. Soho has a way of catching you in between rushes and then invites you to stay. Whether it’s for a coffee, a record, a book, or a late glass of wine, the team welcomes you to the community.
